I'm realistic. And realistically, I'm not that type of player that earns that type of money any more. So I'd be willing to take a little cut to get a couple of extra years.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The career isn't guaranteed for as long as you might want to play.
I see myself playing as long as I am partially enjoying the game and partially successful and they are paying me. But honestly, two more years is about all I can take.
I just felt all along that if I could get a certain amount of years in the league, have great years and still have my health when I walked away, that would be great.
If money titles meant anything, I'd play more tournaments. The only thing that means a lot to me is winning. If I have more wins than anybody else and win more majors than anybody else in the same year, then it's been a good year.
Any time you sign a big contract, you get in those later years, the expectations are high to play at a high level.
We decided to either try trades or just go with older players. If you do that and let contracts expire you can be in the lottery for about four or five years and expect your fans to be patient.
Many players want to make as much money as they can and change teams for ten grand. How is that going to make much difference to their lives?
I think the big thing is you really have one chance to do this... to play hockey for a living, you have one chance at your career, and you have to take full advantage of it.
I came into the game when I broke into the major leagues, the minimum salary was seven thousand dollars, and I'd have to go home in the wintertime and get a job.
Every year you suit up, you play for a championship. Some years, some teams... it was very few times I think I played on that realistically had a chance.